Garment with Front Opening

ABSTRACT

An upper garment having an opening at a front side thereof. In one embodiment, the upper garment includes an undershirt. The undershirt includes a torso section having a pair of arms attached thereto. The front side of the torso section includes a front opening that extends from the open upper end to the lower open end of the undershirt. The front side comprises a first panel and a second panel, each panel including a free edge. The free edge of each of the panels includes a fastener along the length thereof. Without limitation, the fastener includes hook and loop fasteners, buttons, zippers, or the like. The front opening allows individuals to put on or remove the undershirt without inserting their head through the open upper end. In this way, the present invention increases the convenience of donning and doffing upper garments.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/990,260 filed on May 8, 2014. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an upper garment. More specifically, the present invention pertains to an improved upper garment having an opening at a front side thereof. In one embodiment, the present invention comprises an undershirt having an opening that spans the front side of the shirt from the neck opening to the torso opening thereof. In this way, the present invention facilitates donning and doffing of the shirt.

A T-shirt is a widely popular type of garment that is normally associated with short sleeves and a round neck line. To put on a T-shirt, a wearer puts both of his or her arms into the openings on the sleeves from the lower end of the shirt, then puts his or her head through the open upper end. While getting dressed is a part of daily routine, it can be difficult for some individuals to get dressed or undressed by themselves. This is particularly true for individuals suffering from an upper body injury, and for individuals with limited mobility. Thus, there is a need for an upper garment that is easy to wear and remove.

The present invention provides an upper garment having a front opening. In one embodiment, the upper garment comprises an undershirt or a T-shirt having a torso section and a pair of sleeves attached thereto. The front of the torso section is split down the middle so as to define a first panel and a second panel. Each of the first panel and the second panel includes a fastener along the length thereof. The fastener comprises hook and loop fasteners, buttons, zippers, or the like, depending upon the embodiment. In this way, the front of the torso section can be closed or opened. When the torso section is open, the wearer can don and doff the undershirt without the need to insert his or her head through the open upper end.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that claim articles of clothing that are easy to don and doff. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications. These devices generally disclose upper outer garments having fasteners that extend along the length thereof. These devices, however, do not disclose undergarments having fasteners that extend along the length thereof.

The devices disclosed in the prior art have several known drawbacks. These prior art devices are limited in that they comprise upper outer garments, such as dress shirts or jackets. The present invention overcomes these limitations by disclosing an undershirt having a front opening. The opening at the front allows individuals to put on or remove the shirt without putting their head through the open upper end. In this way, the present invention can be used by individuals who have difficulty getting dressed or undressed. It is therefore submitted that the present invention is substantially divergent in design elements from the prior art, and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to articles of clothing that are easy to don and doff. In this regard, the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of articles of clothing with front closure now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new and improved garment with front opening wherein the same can be utilized for increasing convenience when donning and doffing shirts.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a new and improved garment with front opening that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved garment with front opening that can be easily put on or removed by individuals without assistance from others.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved garment with front opening having various types of fasteners over the length of the opening.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved garment with front opening that can be worn under an upper outer garment.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved garment with front opening that resembles a traditional undershirt.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein the numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a view of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a view of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a view of the present invention being worn on an individual.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

References are made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the garment with front opening. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used to increase convenience when donning and doffing shirts. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a front view of an embodiment of the present invention. The present invention comprises an undershirt 21 having a torso section 25 and a pair of sleeves 23 connected thereto. The torso section 25 comprises an open upper end 22 and an open lower end 26. The undershirt 21 is composed of various types of fabric materials known in the art for making upper garments, such as cotton. Additionally, various embodiments of the undershirt 21 are treated with various types of agents and compounds to retain heat, wick moisture, remain dry, reduce or eliminate static, and/or control odor. The present invention comprises a line of connection extending from the open upper end 22 to the open lower end 26. The type of connector utilized by the line of connection varies depending upon the embodiment of the present invention.

The front side of the torso section 25 includes a centrally located vertical opening 27, defining a first panel and a second panel, each having a free edge. The first panel comprises a loop fastener 28 along the length thereof. The second panel comprises a hook fastener 29 along the length thereof. The loop fastener 28 and the hook fastener 29 are disposed on the free edges of the first and second panels. The first panel can slightly overlap the second panel to secure the loop fastener 28 to the hook fastener 29, thereby closing the opening 27 on the front side of the torso section 25.

The loop fastener 28 and the hook fastener 29 lie flat against the wearer so that the front side of the torso section 25 is not excessively bulky. In this way, the present undershirt 21 is suitable to be worn under upper outer garments such as dress shirts, polo shirts, T-shirts, and the like. In the illustrated embodiment, the undershirt 21 comprises short sleeves 23 with an opening 24 at an end thereof for receiving the wearer's arms therethrough. In other embodiments, however, the undershirt 21 comprises long sleeves or quarter sleeves.

One embodiment of the present invention is constructed by sewing a front portion and a second portion along complementary edges, forming a tubular torso section 25 having an open interior, an open upper end or neck hole 22, a pair of sleeve holes, and an open lower end 26 through which the user's torso extends when the present shirt is worn. A pair of sleeves 23 are then sewn to the sleeve holes, forming a completed T-shirt 21. The front portion of the torso section 25 comprises an opening extending from the open upper end to the open lower end, which separates the front portion into a first panel and a second panel. The first and second panels are then removably joinable together via a line of connection 27 extending along the edges of the panels. The line of connection 27 allows users to partially or completely open the shirt 21, as desired.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, are shown views of other embodiments of the present invention. The undershirt 31 comprises a pair of short sleeves 33 with arm openings 34, wherein the sleeves 33 are attached to the torso section 35. The torso section 35 includes an open upper end 32 and an open lower end 36. The front side of the torso section 35 includes a vertical opening 37, which defines a first panel and a second panel. The first panel includes male snap buttons 39 and the second panel includes female snap buttons 38. The snap buttons 38, 39 are disposed along the free edges of the first panel and the second panel. The snap buttons 38, 39 are separated at regular intervals so that the male snap buttons 39 are directly aligned with the female snap buttons 38.

Alternatively, the undershirt 41 comprises a zipper 48 that spans from the open upper end 42 to the lower end 46 of the torso section 45. The zipper 48 is located along the free edge of the first and second panels that are defined at the opening 47 on the front side of the torso section 45. It is contemplated that one end of each of the sleeves 43 is stitched onto the torso section 45, leaving the opposite end 44 of the sleeves 43 open. In this way, the undershirt 41 is unitary in structure.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a view of the present invention as worn on an individual. The loop fastener 28 and the hook fastener 29 are detached at the opening 27 on the front side of the torso section 25. Thereafter, the wearer can insert his or her arms through each of the sleeves 23 without raising his or her arms above the head. The undershirt 21 is worn so that the opening 27 is on the front side of the wearer and the open upper end 22 is disposed around the wearer's neck. The loop fastener 28 and the hook fastener 29 can be readily reached by the wearer so that the wearer does not need assistant from others when donning or doffing the undershirt 21. Additionally, the present invention eliminates the need for the wearer to insert his or her head through the open upper end 22. In this way, the present invention increases the convenience of putting on and removing an upper garment.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above descriptions then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specifications are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

I claim: 1) An undershirt, comprising: a torso section comprising an open upper end and an open lower end; a pair of sleeves extending from the torso section, the sleeves having a length adapted terminate prior to an elbow of a user; a line of connection extending from the open upper end to the open lower end. 2) The undershirt of claim 1, wherein the line of connection comprises hook-and-loop fastening material. 3) The undershirt of claim 1, wherein the line of connection comprises snap buttons. 4) The undershirt of claim 1, wherein the line of connection comprises a zipper. 5) The undershirt of claim 1, wherein the line of connection is centrally located on a front side of the torso section. 6) The undershirt of claim 1, wherein the undershirt is fabricated from cotton. 7) The undershirt of claim 1, where the line of connection is adapted to allow the user to remove the undershirt without requiring the undershirt to be drawn over a head of the user. 8) An upper body shirt, comprising: a front portion, a rear portion, and a pair of sleeves; the front portion and the rear portion comprising complimentary side edges that are sewn together to form a tubular torso section with an open interior, an open lower end, a pair of sleeve holes, and a neck hole; the pair of sleeves sewn to and extending from the pair of sleeve holes of the torso section; the front portion of the shirt further comprises a first panel and a second panel separated by a front opening, each panel comprising an inner edge along the front opening; the inner edges of the first panel and the second panel comprising a removable line of connection to operably connect the first panel to the second panel, partially or completely closing the front opening along their inner edges. 9) The undershirt of claim 8, wherein the line of connection comprises hook-and-loop fastening material. 10) The undershirt of claim 8, wherein the line of connection comprises snap buttons. 11) The undershirt of claim 8, wherein the line of connection comprises a zipper. 12) The undershirt of claim 8, wherein the line of connection is centrally located on a front side of the torso section. 13) The undershirt of claim 8, wherein the undershirt is fabricated from cotton. 14) The undershirt of claim 8, where the line of connection is adapted to allow the user to remove the undershirt without requiring the undershirt to be drawn over a head of the user. 